Recipient Profile
E-mail: ajohns41@nd.edu
Language: Arabic
Location of Study: Beirut, Lebanon
Program of Study: Saifi Immersive Arabic Summer Program (SIASP)
Sponsors: Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures, the College of Arts and Letters, and Kellogg Institute For International Studies.
Blog URL: http://sites.nd.edu/sla2019/author/ajohns41/
Pre-departure
A brief personal bio:
I grew up in Iowa City, Iowa and graduated with a degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 2011. I spent six years working in development and humanitarian organizations in the Middle East from 2009-2017. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Sociology and Peace Studies, with an interest in studying international tourism in the Middle East.
Why this summer language abroad opportunity is important to me:
While I have taken courses in spoken Arabic, I did not had a chance to study Modern Standard Arabic during my time in the region. I am eager to study Arabic in an academic setting in order to master both the grammar and the script. The intensive language study this summer will equip me to engage in further study on campus and continue on the path towards greater fluency. Arabic language skills will be essential for both interviewing civil society actors and reading written materials related to my research. Given the rigorous coursework of a doctoral program, this summer learning opportunity is essential for keeping on track with my research.
What I hope to achieve as a result of this summer study abroad experience:
The Saifi Immersive Arabic Summer Program (SIASP) is an intensive, five-week program offering 150 hours in the classroom, as well as cultural activities to get to know the Lebanese context. Therefore, my goals for these five-weeks are two-fold: my primary objective is to gain basic fluency in Modern Standard Arabic; my secondary objective is to learn about Lebanese society. Both of these objectives complement my prior knowledge and experience and both will assist in my broader programmatic goals in the doctoral program. Learning Modern Standard Arabic is a crucial foundation to continue my Arabic study, building upon my spoken language skills. Being immersed in the Lebanese context will greatly strengthen my knowledge as a Middle East scholar by giving me a more regional perspective and developing my expertise in a comparative case study.
My specific learning goals for language and intercultural learning this summer:
1. At the end of the summer, I will be able to read and write Modern Standard Arabic at a level that allows me to enroll in more advanced Arabic language coursework at Notre Dame.
2. At the end of the summer, I will be able to engage in more complex and in-depth conversations in Arabic.
3. At the end of the summer, I will be able to articulate important themes in Lebanese history and culture and relate this to my broader research in the region.